Archive for December, 2012

DAVAO CITY, Dec. 17 (PNA) — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Davao has cancelled its annual Christmas party celebration to use its supposed budget in helping thousands of victims of super typhoon Pablo.

BOC-Davao district collector Martiniano Bangcoy said they have generated at least P195,000 cash from their 150 employees who voluntarily shelled out their personal money to help the typhoon victims.

Bangcoy said aside from the cash assistance, 30 cartons of sardines from their sub-port in General Santos City was donated.

“We already handed over the cash and goods to Sagip Kapamilya of the ABS-CBN-Davao reporter Elric Ayop last Friday ,” Bangcoy said.

Last week, employees of the regional office of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) led by their chief labor arbiter Elbert Restauro conducted a relief mission in Monkayo town in Compostela Valley as their way to celebrate Christmas party.

“We distributed 130 food packs to victims there,” Restauro said in an interview.

Earlier, Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario and other provincial employees distributed 1,500 food packs to affected residents of Barangay Naboc in Monkayo while another 1,000 food packs were turned over to Compostela Valley first district Rep. Maricar Zamora-Apsay for affected families in Compostela town.

Del Rosario then proceeded to New Bataan to turn over 1,000 food packs to Mayor Lorenzo Balbin Jr. (PNA)
LAM/ASA/LDP/JNC

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DAVAO CITY, Dec. 17 (PNA) — A police official here cited the effective intelligence build-up against threat and terrorist groups to have greatly helped in the death of a Malaysian member of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the arrest of his Filipino wife.

This was according to Supt. Leonardo Felonia, chief of the Philippine National Police-Intelligence Group’s Regional Intelligence Unit 11 and the designated deputy commander for Mindanao of Task Force-Sanglahi, which was created by the PNP to intensify operations against terrorist groups.

“Sometime in October 2012, our unit monitored and reported a series of imminent threats of Mindanao-wide terrorist attacks that could include the City of Davao and Metro Manila as their main targets,” Felonia said in a statement.

He said the intelligence reports prompted them together with Task Force-Sanglahi to conduct several case build-ups against these terrorist groups to deter any terror plan.

At 10:45 p.m. last December 14, Mohd Noor Firkie Bin Abd Kahar, a Malaysian national and suspected JI terrorist, was shot dead by a member of a Special Weapons Action Team of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) at Toryano’s Grill in front of Apo View Hotel along Legaspi Street here where he was cornered after a brief chase.

Investigation showed that at 7 p.m., the alleged terrorist with his wife Annabel Nieva Lee, a native of Sorsogon, was monitored to have checked-in at Room 204, Sampaguita Hotel located in corner Camus and Quirino Streets.

Immediately, personnel of DCPO led by its own chief, Sr. Supt. Ronald dela Rosa, Task Force Davao (TFD), and other intelligence units immediately responded to the area and started to negotiate with the management of the hotel for the ejection of said suspects from their rented room.

At 10:30 p.m., the couple finally went out of the hotel room to check-out. While at the lobby of the said hotel, the woman spotted wearing traditional Muslim attire with black backpack containing an improvised explosive device (IED) was accosted by dela Rosa while Kahar was accosted by elements of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) 11 and 12 but was able to raise his cellphone and threatened to explode the bomb with it as triggering device.

The lawmen scampered for safety and the duo went out of the hotel embracing each other while the suspected JI terrorist was holding the cellphone, warning them of an impending IED explosion.

The suspect got the backpack and was able to run toward People’s Park until he was cornered and fatally shot by the pursuing SWAT team.

Combined teams of EOD from DCPO, TFD and PRO-11 detonated the IED composed of 60MM mortar thru a water disruptor.

Recovered cellphones and other explosive materials were turned over to NICA-11.

The suspect’s wife is now detained at the Investigation and Detection Management Branch of DCPO for further investigation while the body of the JI terrorist was brought to the Angel Funeral Parlor. (PNA)
LAP/ANTHONY S. ALLADA/LDP/SSC

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FUGITIVE Ryan Cain Yu, leader of the notorious Baktin Carnapping Group, may be a fan of the famous Gone in 60 Seconds Movie, but he could make his own version of the movie with a more revised title – Gone in 10 Seconds.

Gone in 60 Seconds is a 2000 American action film, starring Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Giovanni Ribisi, Christopher Eccleston, Robert Duvall, Vinnie Jones and Will Patton. The film was directed by Dominic Sena, and written by Scott Rosenberg. It was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and is a remake of the 1974 H.B. Halicki Gone in 60 Seconds.

In his version, Yu can be the actor, director and producer. He is as good as that. His key members will be his co-actors and his girlfriend could act as his love interest.

The film can be shot all over the country, since his operation covers almost all parts of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Interestingly, this could a box-office hit with Yu now an instant celebrity, but due to his notoriety after he was named the Most Notorious Carnapper in Mindanao.

He however disappeared like a bubble when authorities raided his warehouse in Tandag City that yielded stolen vehicles and in another follow-up operation more cars were recovered in a shop in Davao City.

Records show that two days after the Tandag City operation, Yu was able to slip out of the country and boarded a Philippine Airlines flight from Manila to Bangkok, Thailand.

As of late, Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was quoted as saying that the notorious carnapper was spotted in Madrid, Spain. As to how this has happened, no details were immediately available.

Importantly, the International Police (Interpol) has a keen eye on him.

Duterte is losing patience on Yu’s continued freedom outside the country. He raised the bounty from P5-million to P6-million if authorities still fail to bring Yu’s head to him after December this year.

He is also offering a small amount of $20,000 (P840,000) for the Interpol and other law enforcement agencies that can arrest Yu but this did not attract for them for now.

Authorities are trying its best to cancel Yu’s international immigration papers so that he could no longer travel and arrest could immediately be done in airports once he attempts to jump to another country.

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IT was not early in October this year that the Baktin Carnapping Group was made known to the public. This was the second major anti-carnap operations of the Highway Patrol Group 13, 11 and the Davao City Police Office when a stolen vehicle was traced in Tandag City on October 16, 2012. And later, it turned out that it was a handiwork of the Baktin Group. And follow-up operations resulted to the recovery of more than 30 carnap vehicles in Tandag City and Davao City.

The Baktin Group was unmasked in the same month last year following the arrest of one of its key leaders, Osmond Ray Dalugdog, who also goes by the names “Cocoy,” “Cocoy Dee” and “Hashim Dee Balabaran” in Cagayan de Oro City.

It was there that officials were able to get reliable information on knowing how the group operates.

This group is involved in a web of conspiracy between actual thieves, their financiers and masterminds and their rogue contacts from the government particularly the Land Transportation Office and the HPG, this was according to former HPG director Leonardo Espina, now the National Capital Region Police Office director.

Espina said they had found out that a group of ‘financiers’ composed of wealthy businessmen from Central Mindanao and Visayas region is actually behind the operations of the car theft ring.

“These financiers are the prime manipulative body behind the illegal scheme. In fact, they are considered as the core of the carnapping industry in the Philippines,” said Espina.

He said the ‘financiers’ were keenly basing their next move on the demand or purchase orders from several used car dealers and prospective buyers in Visayas and Mindanao.

In the case of the Baktin Group, he said the ‘arranged orders’ were initially conveyed to Ryan Cain Yu alias Ryan Young/Baktin who has been charged with five counts of violation of Republic Act 6539 or the Anti-Carnapping Law, the Anti-Fencing Law and Illegal Transfer of LTO License Plate Number along with two suspected members of the syndicate named Osmond Ray Dalugdog, alias Cocoy Dee,Hashim Dee Balabaran and Mark Lester Reyes before the Department of Justice in connection with the recovery of five of 22 stolen motor vehicles in separate operations in Visayas and Mindanao.

Espina said they have discovered that Yu, known as a ‘main player’ in the industry categorically ran and managed the ‘re-birthing’ operations of stolen motor vehicles, whether they are smuggled or stolen motor vehicles given fake LTO registration papers.

He said the group’s operation basically depends on the number of specific motor vehicles being demanded by their buyers. Espina said that a lengthy investigation conducted by the Regional Highway Patrol Unit 10 headed by Senior Supt. Greg Pimentel, the HPG Intelligence Division under Supt. Romualdo Iglesia and the HPG Motor Vehicle Clearance Division led by Supts. Ferdinand Gil Tria and Roque Vega showed that Yu is the one ‘relaying’ the orders to Reyes who has been described as a leader of a notorious carnapping gang operating in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog.

Espina said they have received reliable information that Reyes have bought stolen motor vehicles from several other car theft rings in the country including the notorious Salvatierra Group, the Bonifacio Group, the Roger Dominguez Group and the Ond Santiago Group.

These groups have been described as hard-core criminal gangs operating in the metropolis and its nearby provinces until most of their members were neutralized by the HPG in a series of anti-carnapping operations last year and this year.

Espina said that investigation showed that Reyes usually instruct car thieves to deliver freshly-stolen motor vehicles to him in order to hide the vehicles from pursuing authorities. After a while, the stolen vehicles will be handed to the group’s ‘transporters’ who are assigned to immediately ship the vehicles to the Baktin Group’s shops via Leyte or Manila Ro-Ro ferries going to Central Mindanao and Visayas region.

Once the vehicles have reached their destination, they are immediately taken to different clandestine motor shops where they are given a new look thru the so-called ‘re-birthing’ operations.

Espina said Dalugdog has been identified as Yu’s associate who is known for facilitating the fake documentation of the stolen motor vehicle thru his contacts from LTO offices in Mindanao including those in Tubo, Lanao del Norte, Ozamis, Sarangani, Polomolok, South Cotabato, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao and Panitay.

Dalugdog met his deadly end when unidentified gunmen sprayed bullets at his driven Honda Civic in Barangya Dologon, Maramag, Bukidnon on November 26, 2011. Also slain was his girlfriend, Colomba Caragay, a graduating nursing student of Xavier University.

As to the investigation of the case, the ambush remains to be a mystery and no suspects were brought to justice.

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SOFT-SPOKEN and straight-forward, this man is a kind of a leader whose actions speak louder than words. He speaks less and works more. He always means business in all his tasks and endeavors. Nothing more, nothing less. No wonder, he earned praises from his superiors and other officials.

I am actually referring to Senior Superintendent Gregorio Ramos Pimentel, the proud Ilocano who is the regional chief of the Highway Patrol Group 11.

Greg, as he is fondly called, is the man of the hour after he spearheaded in busting the biggest carnapping syndicate in Mindanao – the Baktin Carnapping Group — in a series of intensified anti-carnapping operations since last month.

The Baktin Group, headed by one Ryan Cain Yu, is now considered neutralized with the arrest of its key members and the surrender of Yu’s trusted aide. And Yu, even as he is still at large, is on the run now and is reported to be seeking refuge in Bangkok, Thailand was later traced to Madrid, Spain. In any case, the operation of the group is practically paralyzed.

There is something that makes Greg exceptional among other police or military officials. He is both a specialist on operation, investigation and intelligence. And he uses this expertise to lead successful major operations.

“I have been assigned to different fields in the police force and I gain knowledge from trainings and seminars,” the former member of the defunct Philippine Constabulary quips, adding “I find it very helpful in my work now that makes me very efficient and effective.”

Greg is not a typical official who claims credit alone in every accomplishment, saying “it’s always a team effort. I could not just do it alone.”

He does not mind putting his life into risk and gets several death threats from those big names and high-profile personalities he once dealt with accordingly.

“I am used to this since I was assigned in conflict-stricken area in the hinterlands of Basilan and Sulu provinces while I was a PC,” he said.

He was not just an anti-carnap buster but a crime buster himself because he can be considered the one who specializes in breaking up organized crime and pursuing prosecution for its members.

Not too colorful life

Even in his junior officer years, he is really a dedicated and result-oriented public servant. Such dedication in work even caused him to be locked in jail for one day after he was counter-charged over the RCBC Robbery Case where he led an operation that busted a big-time robbery syndicate that was involved in one of the branches of RCBC Bank in February 14, 1993. He was assigned at that time at the Regional Operation Center, in Recom 11, Davao City.

In one time of his police career that is still unknown for some, he was discharged from service after he was marked Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) in Region 4 when his original assignment was as staff officer of the Provincial Headquarters in South Cotabato in 1990.

Sir Greg had to contend himself from receiving no salary for more than a year and despite very low morale after he was dropped from the rolls, he did not lose hope and continued to appeal his case.

With the help of retired Gen. Gerry Gacayan, who was the PC deputy for operations at that time, his dismissal was later nullified after it was proven that he was dismissed in absentia.

His first assignment after graduating his Bachelor of Military Science at the Philippine Military Academy in 1985 was as junior officer of the Regional Special Action Regional Headquarters in Davao City from 1985 to 1986.

Later he was designated as executive officer/intelligence officer of 453 PC COY in General Santos City from 1986 to 1990.

A year later, he was the staff officer of the Provincial Headquarters in South Cotabato and later assigned with Regional Operation Center in Recom 11, Davao City.

In 1992 to 1997, he was absorbed as the deputy regional officer of the 12th Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit based in Cotabato City. From 1997 to 2003, he was transferred to Region 11 for the same position.

In July to September 2003, he was designated as Assistant Division Chief of Human Resources Doctrine Development of the CIDG in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

It was after that stint that he got his first assignment as regional chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit in Region 9 based in Camp Batalla, Zamboanga City. He was there for about four years.

From investigation unit, he was absorbed in the intelligence unit when he was taken in as operation officer of the Mindanao Area Police Intelligence Office (MAPIO) under the Directorate for Intelligence (DI) of the Philippine National Police based in Camp Catitipan, Davao City.

He rose to become MAPIO’s deputy area chief from February 2007 to September 2007 until he was the MAPIO chief from September 2007 to June 21, 2009.

From intelligence unit, he was then absorbed by the Highway Patrol Group after he was assigned as regional chief of HPG 11 from July 1, 2009 to July 21, 2010 and was later transferred to Region 10 based in Cagayan de Oro City until 2012.

He was back in Davao City for good. Just barely few months, he led the biggest operation in his life in busting the Baktin Carnapping Ring.

Busting organized groups, syndicates

Pimentel is one public servant who has feared no one. Even the notorious and terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group was not spared.

In May 22, 2002, he led an operation that resulted to the arrest of Nur Mohammad Omug, secretary general of Alharakatul Islamiya and top leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group. In almost the same occasion, Edwin Uy, considered the Public Enemy Number 1 in Mindanao and leader of a kidnap-for-ransom syndicate was nabbed by his group.

He also initiated the surrender of former PO1 Guillermo Wapile, who was charged in the killing of Pagadian City journalist Edgar Damalerio on May 13, 2002. Wapile was later sentenced by the court to life imprisonment.

In 2004, Pimentel and his men also arrested 34 members of the H-World Organization, an organized crime group operation in the entire Mindanao.

His group was also behind the neutralization of Hilarion del Rosario Santos III, top leader of the Raja Sulaiman Movement, affiliate group of the Abu Sayyaf Group involved in series of kidnapping and bombing incidents in Metro Manila and Mindanao areas. Seven other group members were also arrested at Cawasa Drive, San Jose, Zamboanga City on October 25, 2005.

In 2009, one Jam Idznafil, a leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s Special Operation Group, who was facing a multiple charges for bombings in Mindanao and Metro Manila was also arrested.

One Charlie Lim, an alleged leader of a carnapping group, was also neutralized on September 23, 2010 in Butuan City.

Hector Estipona and Fahad Ali Mangdao, leaders of a motorcycle robbery syndicate were arrested by HPG 11 operatives in Cagayan de Oro City in 2011.

On October 7, 2011, Osmond Ray Dalugdog, one of the identified leaders of the Baktin Carnapping Group, was also arrested in Cagayan de Oro City. His arrest resulted to the recovery of 23 stolen motor vehicles in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental and six others in Cagayan de Oro.

Awards, Schoolings, Trainings

The neutralization of big-time carnapper Dalugdog earned him an award, naming him as the Senior Police Officer of the Year of the HPG, which he received last May 2012 from former HPG director Leonardo Espina, who is now the director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

In 2004, he was also awarded Senior Police Officer of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

He was also the Junior Police Officer in 1997 when he was still at CIDG. In 1986, he earned the Junior Police Officer award from the Philippine Constabulary, South Cotabato Provincial Command, South Cotabato Province.

With regards to his schoolings, he also obtained his Master in Public Administration (MPA) at the National College of Business and Arts in 2007.

Pimentel also completed the Public Safety Officer Course (PSOAC) Class 30-2001, Philippine Public Safety College, National Police College, Fort Bonifacio, Makati City from August 20, 2001 to December 19, 2001.

He also went through the Basic Intelligence Course for Constabulary and INP Officers (BICCIO), Class 15, Intel Training Command, Camp Crame, Quizon City from July 27, 1990 to November 23, 1990.

He also underwent trainings here and abroad. They included the Basic Criminal Investigation conducted by United States Department of Justice, International Criminal Investigation Training and Assistance Program on April 12, 2004 to April 30, 2004 in PRO 7, Cebu City; Counter Terrorism Interview Techniques, UK Police Service and British Embassy; Honolulu Police Department Training of the Officers of the National Police College at Honolulu, Hawaii on May 22, 2003; Investigative Interviewing Course, British Metropolitan Police,; Major Case Management Course, Royal Canadian Mounted Police; Management of Serious Crimes, Australian Federal Police Academy, Canberra, Australia; Public and Media Relation; Senior Investigative Officer Course; Tactical Intelligence Analyst Course; and Workshop on Safety Measures against Bomb Threats and Effective Management of Post Blast Incidents.

Other side of him

While maintaining his being an operational officer at his best, he still finds time of visiting his farm in General Santos City. He describes himself as a weekend farmer. He sees to it that he can visit his palm oil farm once a week. This is the best time that he can unwind and relax from his busy six working days. If he has also other time, he rides his motor bike. He really enrolled to a learn the basic and the skills and techniques of driving motorcycles.

Pimentel also sees to it to be with his family on weekends. He prefers not to reveal the whereabouts of his family for security reasons. But he traces his roots from Ilocos Norte, although his family already lived somewhere in Pangasinan. His family is a distant relative of former President Fidel Ramos, whose family name happens to be his surname.

He is also a compliant of the government’s National Greening Program (NGP) where the PNP has been part of its realization. HPG 11 personnel are planting trees of various species in identified areas in the region and even expanding in General Santos City.

At 49, who knows this police officer who is due for promotion to earn his first general star elevates himself to be the country’s one of the top cops in the near future. And this is very possible. He is physically fit and doing a good job at the helm of HPG 11. (ASA)